Does Inversion Therapy Work For Lower Back Pain?

When patients with lower back pain ask me, “Is there something I can do at home to help myself?” I often recommend some form of Inversion Therapy.

What is Inversion Therapy?

Inversion Therapy is a way of using gravity to passively lengthen the spine and gradually decompress and widen the spaces between vertebrae. One way of doing this is to use a sit-up bench. You lie flat on the bench with your feet hooked under the top loop for 5 minutes. This will gradually stretch your back and can relieve lower back pain.

However, there is a more effective and simple device that allows you to be comfortably suspended by your feet to varying degrees up to a full 180 degrees. An Inversion Table allows you a lot more control and is far more versatile than a sit-up bench.

Advantages & Benefits of an Inversion Table:

It is extremely convenient and can be used as soon as you feel a problem coming on.

An Inversion Table can relieve lower back pain as well as many types of back pain.

It is extremely simple to use & requires no effort.

With regular self- treatment it promotes better alignment of the back which helps to prevent lower back pain.

After doing considerable research, here is the model I recommend.

The Teeter 550 is a great table that also allows you to rotate your body when you are inverted, and this helps to re-align the back.

This table is very durable, extremely simple and comfortable to use. It also Inverts up to a full 180º allowing you to choose a level that is comfortable for you. This model folds away and the price is right,

(about $400 range). In my opinion, the cost/benefits of higher priced models aren’t worth it. On the other hand, buying a less expensive table can be risky, so I wouldn’t go with that either.

Using an Inversion Table is not a fix all but, it is one of the best and simplest ways I know of to self -treat and prevent lower back pain. I hope you found this post informative.